Consumable management device, an image forming system, and a method of managing an imaging consumable of an image forming device
US6370341B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K2215/0017
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A consumable management device, an image forming system, and a method of managing an imaging consumable of an image forming device are described. According to an aspect of the present invention, a consumable management device includes an interface adapted to communicate with an image forming device configured to use an imaging consumable to form a hard image, the interface being adapted to receive a status message from the image forming device corresponding to the status of the imaging consumable within the image forming device; storage circuitry configured to store a current inventory status of the imaging consumable within an inventory for the image forming device; and processing circuitry coupled with the interface and configured to update the current inventory status responsive to the status message providing an updated inventory status.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.